Towards open source democracy?

TRN was co-founding a political database website www.politicalbase.in.th which was launched last week in Beta. The site is being developed and own by Siam Intelligence Unit, the new young blood think tank in Bangkok. We hope that it will be a small step towards a more transparent, more open source democratic process in Thailand empowering by the Internet. The site was developed using WikiMedia engine to allow broad-base contribution in the future. The site was inspired by www.politicalbase.com beyond that, the concept of Open Source Democracy can be founded and downloaded as free PDF at the DEMOS website.

Here is what Bangkok Post, a local English newspapers, was covering the story.
(original at http://www.bangkokpost.com/election2007/231207/election_231207_06.htm )

Want to knowall about Thailand’s politicians?

New database has the answers

By Achara Ashayagachat

A group of young professionals have launched the first online database containing everything you want to know about Thai politicians and political parties. Project leader Charoenchai Chaipiboolwong, of the Siam Intelligence Unit, said the Thailand Political Base website (www.politicalbase.in.th) would become one of the practical tools for people to monitor political figures as well as check on backgrounds and policy platforms of political parties.The initiative was based on an idea that information is the key for ”quality politics”, he said.

”It is the people who have to stand up to protect their own interests and they can do so if they have information. When they get the information, they can share it with their colleagues and friends or create a small network to exchange this useful data,” said Mr Charoenchai, a businessman at a security firm who teamed up with his economics graduate friends from Chulalongkorn University.

Thanee Chaiwat, an economics lecturer at Chulalongkorn University’s Centre for the Development of Policy Studies, said political parties fielding candidates in today’s election had come up with similar policies, so voters need to check the backgrounds of each candidate to help them make the right decision.

The website, which is still in a fledgling stage, is sponsored by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, the Siam Intelligence Unit and Social Innovation Design.

Kan Yuenyong, another team member, said the website is expected to operate like the free encyclopaedia Wikipedia where internet users can get reliable information on certain topics.

The website now contains brief histories of about 40 prominent politicians such as Thaksin Shinawatra, Samak Sundaravej, Abhisit Vejjajiva and Chuan Leekpai.

It also has lists of cabinet members of previous governments, the 2007 constitution, facts about the Sept 19 coup and laws passed by the National Legislative Assembly.